106 - Camino News Update 2/14/24 with Leigh Brennan and Johnnie Walker

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Transcript

Pilgrim Updates and Carnival Celebrations

Speaker 1 0:09

Hello Pilgrims , it's Wednesday , february 14th . Happy Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday . Well , we're coming to you live from Santiago de Compostela and the Camino Routes , via De La Plata and Finasterre . I'm Lee Brennan , johnny Walker and our Pilgrim reporters . They'll be joining us shortly . Well , let's get to it .

Speaker 1 0:30

Exciting news this week the sequel to the Way just announced that secured funding and pre-production is already underway . The storyline has our favorite Tom , you know , portrayed by Martin Sheen , as he embarks on a gripping journey to find his pilgrim friend , jack , after Jack puts out a book about their time on pilgrimage over 10 years ago . The movie is going to be set in diverse locations , including Northern Nigeria , amsterdam , dublin and , of course , spain , and it promises some thrilling twists . Congrats to Emilio Martin and team . Stay tuned for further updates as production advances . Well , santiago has been so alive over the past week , with all the vibrant spirit of Mardi Gras . The city has just been sparkling in colorful lights and ranger-inch streets . The nightly parades have been really captivating for all of us here in Old Town , and they may have just kept us up a little later at night . Tourist numbers have surged in Santiago this week from Mardi Gras activities , and so let's check in with Johnny Walker for his report and see what pilgrim arrival numbers look like .

Speaker 2 1:32

Hello Lee , hello everybody , this is John speaking to you in the period of Carnival . I've been wearing that face mask lots in the last few days . Carnival is the period that comes before Lenc starts on Ash Wednesday . Here in Galicia , people take this tradition very seriously indeed and there's much laughing and joking , dancing in the streets , orchestras , concerts , children dancing , children's parades , children's choirs , choirs singing all over the town , and it's a great time of the year . Here in Galicia , the tradition of Carnival goes away back before Christian times when in this farming region , people look forward to spring and the new season of growth , leading hopefully to an abundant harvest .

Speaker 2 2:17

But looking at the weather this time we've had seven warnings of serious flooding in Santiago and the weather hasn't let us down and if you can see , look at the forecast the rain will be with us for some time yet . So , spear a thought for those pilgrims walking , and many have arrived in the last week . Let me just look at this 549 compostellers have been issued by the Pilgrims Office here . That's 3,100 compostellers issued since the 1st of January . Now the key thing is are numbers going up or going down ? Well , they're going up and you can look at this all the time on the Pilgrim Office website in the statistics section and , as you can see , so far this year , 8% more pilgrims than last year and we think , we think that trend might continue , but it's a little early yet .

Speaker 2 3:09

So , going back to Carnival , tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday . Some of you might know this as Fat Tuesday , and the word Carnival comes from the Latin Carnem Lovari , to eliminate meat . Well , here in Galathea they don't eliminate meat too easily , and so tomorrow would be the traditional day of eating a Cotido Gallego , which has got parts of the pig from all parts and , as they say , we eat the pig even the squeal . So let's finish this little news bulletin in the spirit of Carnival . Thank you very much . All the best .

Speaker 1 3:54

Alright , let's check in with two pilgrims who are currently walking out to Finasterre from Santiago . I'd like to introduce you to Roy and Parosh .

Speaker 3 4:02

Welcome . This is a very special place because in the middle age the Church of Santiago wants to have the control of the bridge . Why ? Because in the middle age everybody needs to pay to go across the river . So if you have the control of the river , you have the control of the taxis . That means money . We are on the way to the greater first stage on the Finasterre Camino Wine break . If you walk the Camino in Galicia , please do not forget to get some alvarino on your way . You can choose to go there too , it doesn't matter , but get some wine , of course , otherwise you will be not walking the Camino in Galicia . How is the weather ? How is the weather Wet ? The weather is wet , of course . How many pilgrims did we meet Last year or in my life Today ? Roy oh , today , that is a professional question .

Speaker 3 5:15

Today , I have met non-kilbians so you can walk your own all the way through it . Yes , I do recommend it Walking winter . Don't come in summertime , not even in spring . The best modes to walk the Camino January , february , beginning of March . Don't choose any other month , please .

Speaker 1 5:37

And now for a segment we like to call when in Santiago . Well , if you are here and you are creating a quick buy in Old Town , head to El Traybol . It's just off plaza Cervantes , you know . As you come in off the Frances , and boy , they have mouth watering and panadas Impanadas , by the way , originated from Galicia and Portugal , and these savory pastries offer a taste of history , with fillings like meats and seafood , cheese and veggies . Our taste testing team has been raving over the past couple of weeks about the generous and high quality fillings , the crispy exteriors and the flaky interiors . My favorite , the vegetarian with lentils , yum . And the best part of it all is you can enjoy an empanada and a beer for just under six euro Delicious dining that won't break your budget . When in Santiago , let's head to the Via della Plata and hear how Rocco and Lindsay are doing this week .

Speaker 4 6:29

Thanks , Lee . Look what the Gato dragged in . I'm here with Lindsay himself . We have a crossover promotion today . We're in Samora . I've caught up to him . Well , he let me catch up to him . He stayed here an extra day and tell the crowd what you're planning next , Lindsay , because you've decided this isn't for you . You're going alternative .

Speaker 5 6:51

Yeah , so I looked at the weather forecast and all I can see is cold , wet and windy , and , being from Australia , that's not something that I really like to do , so I'm going to head down and do the . How do I say it ?

Speaker 3 7:02

Mozarab .

Speaker 5 7:03

Mozarab from .

Speaker 4 7:05

Almaria , almaria , through to Granada and Cordoba and all of those amazing places .

Speaker 5 7:12

And probably end up in Marida . And then I decide what to do next .

Speaker 4 7:17

And I'm going to , as my son says , embrace the suck and keep going north . I'll be heading for the Santa Braz and tonight we met a new pilgrim We've neither of us met before Daniel from the Netherlands . He's also going to be doing the Santa Braz . So that's just part of the nature of the Camino . As in life , people come in and out of your life and the important thing is to be in the present . Enjoy every moment . We've had lunch , we just made dinner together , sharing a couple of beers , and just the beauty of the Camino .

Speaker 5 7:50

We're in the bag , I get peter greenos and there's a free breakfast in the morning . Well , cod donatevo is a breakfast in the morning , Remember donatevo is not free .

Speaker 4 7:59

It's what you can pay and please don't cheap out . If you're able to buy beers , you're able to give to the donatevo and it keeps the incredible spirit of these places alive . Antonio , the hospitalero is doing a phenomenal job and you want to be part of

Changing Camino Experience and Personal Growth

Speaker 4 8:16

it . You've been walking away for several weeks now and reflected a little bit in your extra day of stay here in Zamora . What have been the highlights for you of the plata up to here ?

Speaker 5 8:27

Yeah , look , probably more than anything else , I'm going over old ground . I walked this last year in February month and I'm visiting the same places , but what I see is I'm a different person as I come through each geographic or memory . I can see my own personal growth over the year , over the Camino . That , I think , is , and that's probably been , a highlight for me .

Speaker 4 8:52

Every time you come . Even if you come to the same Camino and stop in the same places , the people are different .

Speaker 4 8:59

The weather is going to be different and , as Lindsay said , you're going to be different because you're asking yourself different questions and you've grown and regressed in so many different ways in that amount of time , so you can never do the same Camino twice . For me , it's just been so amazing because look the plata you have Merida , Casares , Salamanca three UNESCO World Heritage sites , fantastically beautiful places , but it's still the incredible people you meet along the way that really make the Camino .

Speaker 5 9:31

And , as you say , it's different . So when , obviously , last time it was hot like talking over 30 degrees , and so today , what was the top of eight ?

Speaker 4 9:41

Yeah , that was as hot as it got and it started at around three this morning .

Speaker 5 9:47

So , yeah , you can never walk through Camino as the sun .

Speaker 4 9:50

So I've been following this guy , following him on the Camino update , get to spend one day with him and then he's gone again . But we'll be keeping you updated next week and he'll be calling in from the Camino Mozarra , buon Camino .

Speaker 1 10:09

I just put out a new Camino Cafe podcast episode where Pilgrims Andy Holloway and Simon Bern discussed the plans for making the upcoming documentary somewhere along the way , which features Dan Mullins . It's their way to give back an honor both Spain and the Camino . Listen to it now , wherever you listen to podcasts , and wow , that's a wrap from all of us here at Camino News Update . Can't wait to see you in Santiago , pilgrims , ciao .